DECATUR -- With the July 4th holiday only weeks away, the City Council passed an ordinance allowing the sale and limited use of fireworks in the city.
The council discussed the proposal regulating the "use, possession and sales of fireworks" in Decatur and setting fines for misuse. The new ordinance repeals any previous measures and passed on three readings.
The new ordinance went into effect June 15 and says "consumer fireworks, except for bottle rockets, sky-rockets, roman candles and any other fireworks that are mounted to and fly on a stick, may be discharged on private property on the dates of July 3, from 12 p.m. until 10 p.m., and July 4, from 12 p.m. until 11:59 p.m."
Only commercial vendors will be allowed to sell fireworks in Decatur. Sales aren't permitted in areas zoned residential or agricultural.
Individuals, businesses or corporations wishing to sell fireworks will need a permit issued by the fire chief costing $100 and will be required to have all necessary federal and state licences for fireworks.
Fireworks sales will be permitted from June 15 through July 9 of each year.
Violators will be subject to arrest and can be charged with a misdemeanor and a $500 fine, if convicted.
Decatur's fire chief can prohibit sales, display and use of fireworks based upon weather conditions.
The council also reviewed a proposal establishing a public parking area between the Decatur Depot and Roller Avenue. The city recently signed a lease with Kansas City Southern Railroad for the land from Roller Avenue east of the railroad's right-of-way (the location of the new lot) to the south end of the locomotive display area.
An issue with business-owner parking forced the council to table the proposal until the July 10 meeting.
The council discussed reducing the speed limit on both Arkansas 59 and Arkansas 102 to 45 mph in the city. Because of recent accidents on Arkansas 59 and three fatalities near Crystal Lake Road on north Arkansas 59, the council voted to send a letter to the Arkansas Department of Transportation to request the change.
NW News on 06/22/2017